AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 139, 21 May 1892, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ME SPEIGHT v. THE AGE. DAMAGES LAID AT L 26.000, .P«SR UNITED PBISSS ASSOCIATION..! Melbourne, May 20. Mr Speight, Chief Kailway Commis". sioner, has issued a writ against The Ago, claiming L 25.000 as damages, for libel in commenting on his suspension. Tlie motion praying for the removal of the Kailway Comniis'sioners will be de s batejl on Wednesday next. Brisbane, May 20. The Governor-m Council has approved of tlte regulations in regard to the em* ployment of Knnaka labour. They consist of 54 clauses and provide for every contingency which is likely to arise. Only British subjects will be employed in recruiting, and separate accommodu* fion will be provided in vessels for Kanaka women. No firearms, liquor, or dice will be given to the natives while on board the vessel. The recruiting agent and crew are not to sleep away from the s-hip, and the shipmaster is to obey the instructions of the Government. The labour is to be recruited in the presence of an agent, and no attempt is to be made to take those Islanders who are unwilling to go to Queensland. On returning to the Islands they will be taken to their own villages. A hospital is to be established in Queensland for the treatment^ those Islanders who may fall ill. Sydney, May 20. The Agricultural statistics for the season ending April show a decrease in the area under cultivation of 6341 acres. There is also a decline in wheat growing, the wheat yield being 16£ per cent below the average of the past ten years. The total yield was 3.649,216 bushels, being an average of 1095 per acre.